Cola baldwinii (Malvaceae: Sterculioideae), a new forest tree species from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinée

Background and aims – While working on forest inventories in Guinée and Liberia a fruiting Cola tree was collected that initially could not be identified. It proved, however, to be conspecific with Cola spec. C of the Flora of West Tropical Africa and is described here. Key results – The new forest tree species Cola baldwinii Jongkind is illustrated and described. It resembles Cola flavo-velutina K.Schum. and C. reticulata A.Chev., but has clearly different fruits. Conservation Status – Currently it is difficult to assess the rarity of this new species. It is relatively widespread and probably undercollected. Considering the ongoing deforestation in this part of Upper Guinea, however, the species should provisionally be listed as Vulnerable.